If you’re a cat parent, you may have leveraged the assistance and support offered by cat sitters in Dubai. You’ll know that doing so is one of the best ways to have your cat’s needs taken care of on time. Cat sitters are loving, trustable, and trained individuals who are specialised in caring for your cat(s).
For those that have previously had a cat sitter look after their cat, they’ll know that it’s a lifesaving option when life gets the best of them. Although leaving cats behind with friends, family, or neighbours may seem like a viable option, it can’t promise professional and personalised care for cats.
If you’re unsure about availing cat sitting services, or are not convinced that they’re the right solution for you – read on to understand all the reasons why hiring a cat sitter in Dubai is actually the more feasible solution.
Why Hire a Cat Sitter in Dubai
1. Cats Receive Personalised Care in the Comfort of Their Own Home (Or the sitter’s!)
Unlike boarding your cat in a facility or asking friends or neighbours for favours, cat sitters offer the advantage of personalised care in the familiar comfort of your own home. Cats are creatures of habit, and abrupt changes to their environment can trigger stress and anxiety in them. With a cat sitter, your feline friend can enjoy having their daily routines maintained. They’ll have minimal disruptions and their general well-being will be maintained.
If you want to know more about why cat boarding facilities are not advisable for cats, read our blog on the 6 Reasons to Choose Cat Sitting Over Cat Boarding Facilities.
2. Enjoy Your Time Away – Stress Free!
Dubai is a city known for its dynamic lifestyle and frequent travel opportunities. When you’re away, the last thing you want is to worry about your cat’s safety and happiness. Relax and enjoy your travels or other plans knowing that your cat is receiving quality care, companionship, and the attention they deserve from a cat sitter.
3. Professional and Specialised Care by Expert Cat Sitters
Cats have unique behaviours, dietary needs, and health considerations. When you entrust your cat to the care of a cat sitter, you’ll want to make sure they can provide specialised and expert care.
Professional cat sitters can understand cat behaviour and recognise signs of distress or illness. They’ll also know how to handle emergencies. Their experience ensures that your cat receives the highest level of care, and they can provide professional advice or recommendations to enhance your cat’s well-being.
4. Cats Get a lot of Playtime and Companionship
Cats thrive on interaction and playtime, especially when they’re the centre of attention. Unfortunately, the busy schedules of their humans can sometimes limit the attention and engagement they receive. Cat sitters can bridge this gap by devoting quality time to their feline companion.
They understand the importance of mental stimulation and can engage in play, interactive activities, and gentle cuddles. Your cat will feel loved, entertained, and emotionally fulfilled all throughout the period of your absence.
If time outdoors is not an option, then cat sitters will know all the Unique Ways to Engage Your Cats Indoors.
5. Additional Care and Security
Beyond taking care of your cat’s needs, a professional cat sitter can also provide an added layer of security and care. Their presence in your home keeps away potential mischief. Moreover, they can bring in mail, water plants, adjust lighting, and maintain your home – letting you have peace of mind while you’re away.
Cat sitters from professional pet sitting companies will have Reservation Protection Policies and Guarantees to keep everyone involved safe and sound.
6. Cats Get Hygienic Services
For any pet, good hygiene and health are essential for all aspects of their well-being. Cats are animals that frequently clean themselves. Being the neat freaks that they are, having a cat sitter help them out will take their well-being to the next level.
Cat sitters in Dubai and other areas of the UAE will make sure your cat’s surroundings and litter box are cleaned regularly. This will reduce issues with their respiratory, urinary, or digestive systems.
They’ll do what’s necessary to keep your cat clean in all ways, such as grooming them, maintaining their oral health and hygiene, providing the right food, and changing their litter boxes. If your cat’s luscious fur coat gets dirty, cat sitters will do what’s necessary to bathe them and keep them clean.
7. Proper Hydration and Care
Everybody knows that Dubai has a hot, dry, and arid climate with occasional bouts of humidity. Just like us, cats need to stay hydrated to keep themselves cool. Instinctually speaking, cats tend to engage in grooming behaviours to cool themselves down, and will find shady areas to avoid directly being under the hot sun.
Cat sitters in Dubai understand how to keep cats safe and hydrated during the hot weather. They’ll know when it’s okay to let them out for fresh air, and when it’s too hot. If your cat starts to demonstrate even borderline signs of heatstroke, they’ll be quick to get in touch with a vet. They’ll keep your cat comfortable till they get the required medical attention.
Now, you know why you should definitely go for a professional cat sitter in Dubai when you’re away. Next comes the tricky part. This requires a bit of research and homework on your part to find the right cat sitter for your cat(s). Those of you that have hired cat sitters in Dubai before would know that the last thing you want is to have an inexperienced individual look after your tabby.
We recommend going for a cat sitter from a known company in Dubai. You’ll have to be weary of cat sitters in Dubai who just want to make a few extra bucks without an actual love for cats. Although they’ll get through a few rounds of discussion with you, their lack of expertise will reflect in the kind of care they provide for your cat.
This may leave you filled with worry. You may also find yourself in a state of apprehension and restlessness. To avoid such situations, it’s always better to find a good cat sitter, preferably through professional pet sitting companies.
Traits to Lookout for in Cat Sitters
The following are traits that professional and loving cat sitters will have not only in Dubai, but all over the world:
1. Love for Cats Straight from the Heart
It’s hard to be a professional cat sitter unless you have an actual love and affinity towards cats. Trained cat sitters generally know the ins and outs of taking care of your cat. At some point, most would have even been cat parents themselves, giving them first-hand experience.
2. Expertise in the Health and Well-Being of Cats
While being an expert doesn’t mean cat sitters need to have a PhD in cat care, cat sitters should have a thorough understanding of cat health and behaviours. This understanding should help them determine if your cat needs medical attention. For instance, if your cat is choking or experiencing a heat stroke episode, cat sitters should know how to handle the situation.
3. Gentle and Sensitive Nature
The last thing you’d probably want is someone with anger management issues. Cats are highly sensitive animals, and they need someone who has the patience and sensitivity to handle them. Impatience and shows of frustration around your cat will definitely increase their levels of anxiety. Cat sitters therefore need to be soft, patient, and gentle in approaching your pet cat.
4. Good Communication Skills
Effective communication is essential for a cat sitter. They should be able to understand and follow your instructions regarding feeding, medication, playtime, and any specific needs your cat may have. They should also be responsive and provide updates on how your cat is doing.
5. Professionalism and Accountability
A professional cat sitter will treat their job seriously, respecting your home and property. They should be accountable for any mishaps or accidents that may occur during their care, and have appropriate measures in place to address them.
6. Flexibility and Adaptability
Cats can have specific routines or special requirements, so it’s essential to find a cat sitter who can adapt to your cat’s needs. They should be flexible in accommodating your cat’s feeding schedule, litter box maintenance routine, playtime, and other unique requirements.
7. Licensed and Insured
While it’s not much of a biggie, it’s preferable to choose a cat sitter who is licensed and insured. This demonstrates professionalism and ensures that they are committed to their role as a pet caregiver. You won’t have to worry about this if you’re going through a trusted pet sitting company – they’ll have all their cat sitters covered.
After reading through this blog, you should now have a solid understanding of why you should definitely go for a cat sitter in Dubai, as well as the essential traits they should possess.
Got No Trusted Cat Sitter To Call in Dubai?
Pawland is here for you. We make sure your cat gets the best and the most it deserves. We have cat sitters that don’t work simply to make a living but to grow a ‘loving’ for your pet. You can choose from our range of cat sitting services. Our cat sitters in Dubai will never let you or your cat down! Just reach out to us and we’ll get in touch with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Booking a pet sitter around the holidays is different because it's the time when pet owners, just like you will be on the lookout for what to do with their pet when they’re away.
The sudden rise in bookings will have a strong impact on the availability of pet sitters. That is why we reiterate the importance of booking a pet sitter a few weeks to months in advance to enjoy your holidays without stress.
It is advised to book a pet sitter for the holidays at least two months or more in advance. This is ideal because it gives pet sitting companies the time to review your request, position a pet sitter, and have them available for the duration of the booked period.
While last minute pet sitter requests may be taken in, you may be put on a waiting list. For any pet parent, this will lead to uncertainty and avoidable stress.
You can prepare your pet for the pet sitting service in the same way that you would for a pet sitting/in-home pet boarding service booked during other times of the year.
As availability and connectivity are generally a factor that arise during all holiday seasons, you’ll want to provide the pet sitter with additional emergency contacts and veterinary information.
Also, the holidays are a time when scents, sounds, and motions may be different to the usual due to traditions and festivities. Although fundamentally harmless, they may overwhelm your pet and make them uncomfortable. If you feel this will be an issue for your pet, you can mention it to the pet sitter and they’ll do what’s necessary. They’ll keep your pet safe, comfortable, and happy at all times.
This is why it is recommended to book with a trustable and established pet sitting company. Pet sitting companies will cover you and your pet throughout the service with their guarantee.
If a pet sitter does cancel at the last minute, the company will make sure the necessary arrangements are made for a backup pet sitter. The team will generally work with you to find a replacement as soon as possible, and also provide you with a smooth transition.
With freelance pet sitters, there’s no guarantee that they’ll help you find a replacement. In this situation, you and your pet would just be left hanging - along with your pending travel plans!
It is common for pet sitting companies to be booked for the holidays. Most will work with you to find an alternative and safe pet sitting service they can allot for you during that time.
For instance, if you want live-in pet sitting services, but pet sitters are fully booked for this service, the team will bring up the alternative of availing in-home pet boarding services.
Although the thought of leaving your pet at another pet sitter’s residence may sound intimidating, it’s a safe option when availed from trusted pet sitting companies. Also, you won’t have to leave your pet at a boarding facility.
For more on why pet boarding facilities are advised against, you can check out our blog.
Yes, you can avail any type of pet sitting service that you feel your pet will thrive in from a pet sitting company. It all depends on your requirements. You can also specify if you need additional services such as dog walking, grooming, or others.
Just make sure that this is specified in advance, and your pet will definitely be guaranteed maximum safety!
As the holidays are for everyone, pet sitters offering in-home pet boarding services may have guests over. In such cases, if you feel that your pet will not do well around strangers, you can mention it and the pet sitter will do what’s necessary to ensure your pet is comfortable and safe.
Before the service, you can provide your holiday pet sitter with the usuals:
- Specific care instructions
- Information on your pet’s food, dietary requirements, treats, etc
- Their favourite toys
- Cage or crate (For transportation purposes, if this practice is followed. The cage will not be used to confine your pet during the service unless you advise the pet sitter to do so.)
- Medical information and medications, if any
- Emergency contact information
- Veterinary contact information
- House keys and the location of other relevant essentials inside the house
- Information on the route your dog walks (applicable for dog owners)
All of this can be discussed in detail during the arranged Meet & Greet session. The pet sitter will send regular updates throughout the service so you can also elaborate on it then if you feel necessary.
Just like a pet sitting service booking at any other time during the year, holiday pet sitter bookings can be availed for as long as you require them for. The only thing to keep in mind is that extensions in booking services may not be accommodated as easily because pet sitters might have immediate services to tend to as soon as they’re done with yours. You can keep this in mind when planning your holiday itinerary.